Cyclone Ava: we’re caring for more than 8,000 wild animals, pets and farm animals in Madagascar

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Cyclone Ava: we’re caring for more than 8,000 wild animals, pets and farm animals in Madagascar

13 February 2018

Torrential rains, floods and landslides left thousands of animals at risk after it struck the African island last month. Our mobile clinic is visiting animals in urgent need, and helping them recover

Madagascar has an incredibly unique ecosystem, and many of its species of animals and plants can’t be found anywhere else.

But sadly, it’s also one of the poorest countries in the world and is frequently hit by natural disasters. On January 5, tropical Cyclone Ava swept across the eastern part of the island, causing devastating floods and landslides.

Our mobile veterinary clinic has helped 8,868 wild birds, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, and more in the Antananarivo region. We’ve also been caring for lemurs, whose habitats have been badly affected by the cyclone.

Ducklings in Madagascar

Thousands of people’s lives have been wrecked by the cyclone too. Around 40 people have died and more than 24,000 have been evacuated.

How we’re helping animals

We’re working with the local government and Animal SOS, a local animal welfare organisation and our partner on the ground, to help as many animals and animal owners as possible.

In the country’s most affected regions, we’re providing:

a mobile veterinary clinic to vaccinate and treat of injured and sick animals,

Animals are important to people in Madagascar, and many Malagasy people rely on animals to survive. We met an 11-year-old boy named Jerry Ramahiriso during our time in Madagascar, and he told us: "Helping animals is important as they let the family have money – but they are also my friends."

Jerry Ramahiriso with Zebu the cow

Wild animals at risk of trafficking

There’s a direct link between disasters and an increase in the illegal wildlife trade in Madagascar. Sadly, frequent disasters ruin people’s livelihoods and income, so some turn to the illegal wildlife trade to try and stay out of poverty.

Cyclone Ava has damaged much of the rainforest, leaving wild animals exposed and vulnerable, and making it easier for wildlife traffickers to spot and capture them.

As part of our work to help wild animals affected by the disaster, we visited the Vakona Reserve, a private wildlife reserve next to the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.

Many animals who live there have been rescued or confiscated from the trafficking trade. So we needed to ensure that once released, these animals will be homed in high welfare reserves, where they’ll be protected from future cyclones and other disasters.

We also provided food for lemurs while we were at the reserve.

A ring-tailed lemur at Vakona Reserve

Animals need us

Protecting animals after disasters is vital. Thanks to our supporters’ generous donations, we’re able act quickly to protect the animals who need us most.